Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The average temperature in Lincoln as of April 23, 2012 is 54.8F. The average temperature for last month, March 2012 was 55.0 making this April, so far, 0.2 degrees F colder than March.

The graph shows the temperature departures from normal starting on January 25 though April 23, 2012. The magnitude of the March 2012 heat wave is amazing and was record breaking producing the warmest March on record (1887-2012).

Have we ever had an April colder than March during the 125 years of data? Yes, in 1907 March had an average temperature of 44.5F and April had an average temperature of 43.5 F (1.0 degree F colder).

In 1918 April was almost colder than March with March 1918 having an average temperature of 46.7 F and April only 0.2 degrees warmer at 46.9 F.

With well above normal temperatures expected today and tomorrow, we may not hold on to this unusual event of April being colder than March.

Monday, April 23, 2012

The first ever National Severe Weather Preparedness Week is April 22 – 28. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have partnered together to raise awareness about severe weather threats and to ask each person across the country to “Be a Force of Nature” by knowing their risk, taking action and being an example.

Being a force of nature means pledging to prepare. It also means being connected to others and inspiring them to act. Research shows that people are most likely to prepare when they observe the preparations taken by others. Mobile technology and social media offer great opportunities to do just that. When you are aware of danger, take action and then send a message to save a life.
How else can you be a force of nature?

Building a Weather-Ready Nation requires the action of every person and community. This Presidential Message emphasizes weather-readiness as a national priority. Together we can transform the way the United States responds to severe weather and save more lives.April 22-28, 2012 is the first Annual National Severe Storm Preparedness Week.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

State of the Climate: Global Analysis - March 2012State of the ClimateGlobal AnalysisMarch 2012

Global Highlights (from NOAA/NCDC).

The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for March 2012 was the 16th warmest on record at 13.16°C (55.73°F), which is 0.46°C (0.83°F) above the 20th century average of 12.7°C (54.9°F). The margin of error associated with this temperature is ± 0.07°C (0.13°F). March 2012 is the coolest March since 1999. However, it also marks the 36th consecutive March and 325th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last March with below-average temperature was March 1976 and the last month with below-average temperature was February 1985.

Separately, the global land surface temperature was 0.73°C (1.31°F) above the 20th century average of 5.0°C (40.8°F), making this the 18th warmest March on record. The margin of error is ± 0.13°C (0.23°F). Warmer-than-average conditions occurred across nearly all of Canada, the contiguous United States, Mexico, Europe, Argentina, Peru, and parts of northern and central Russia, India, China, and eastern Brazil. Cooler-than-average regions included Alaska, Australia, eastern and western Russia, and parts of New Zealand.Separately, the global land surface temperature was 0.73°C (1.31°F) above the 20th century average of 5.0°C (40.8°F), making this the 18th warmest March on record. The margin of error is ± 0.13°C (0.23°F).

The March global ocean surface temperature was 0.35°C (0.63°F) above the 20th century average of 15.9°C (60.7°F), tying with 1988 and 1990 as the 14th warmest March on record. The margin of error is ± 0.04°C (0.07°F). The warmth was most pronounced across the north central Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, much of the eastern Indian Ocean, and portions of the mid-latitude Southern oceans.The March global ocean surface temperature was 0.35°C (0.63°F) above the 20th century average of 15.9°C (60.7°F), tying with 1988 and 1990 as the 14th warmest March on record. The margin of error is ± 0.04°C (0.07°F).

Monday, April 16, 2012

The tornado photo on the left was taken about 4 miles north northeast of Oxford, Nebraska. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Tetley). At least 4 tornadoes have been confirmed from this event based on a variety of sources, including NWS surveys, storm chaser/spotter video and pictures, emergency management reports and WSR-88D radar data. NWS

Here are the details of the 4 tornadoes in the Hastings, NE, NWS Office County Warning Area on April 14, 2012.

Here's an evolution of the convective outlooks issued by the SPC for the April 14, 2012 outbreak, with preliminary storm reports overlaid on thefinal Day 1 outlook (bottom right).

Note that the maps start with Day 7,meaning 7 days ahead of the predicted event. Notice how each day the same area was outlined for being at risk for severe weather on April 14, 2012. This event CANNOT be considered a "surprise event" with forecasts (outlooks) pointing to the impacted area a week ahead of time.

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The attached map shows the locations of 135 reported tornadoes on Saturday, April 14, 2012.

This is not the final number since several of these tornadoes will have been long track tornadoes and counted (reported) more than once.

The Omaha NWS survey teams found damage paths from 6 tornadoes in Southeast Nebraska and just inside western Iowa that occurred on the evening of April 14 into the early hours of April 15, 2012. These 6 tornadoes, strength and location were:Sterling, NE (EF0),Cook, NE (EF2);Talmage, NE (EF0);Nebraska City (EF1);Thurman, IA (EF2); and,Just east of Council Bluffs, IA (EF1)

There were other tornadoes outside the Omaha NWS County Warning Area and these tornadoes will be listed in the next Blog post.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Record Breaking March 1 - April 9, 2012 Lincoln, NE, Heat Wave

The graph to the left shows the daily temperature departures from normal for Lincoln, Nebraska from March 1 - April 10, 2012. Only one day in March 2012 had an average temperature in Lincoln that was below normal (March 3 at 1 degree below normal). Then from March 4 though April 9, 2012 every day had a daily average temperature that was above normal. There were 11 days that were 20 or more degrees above normal; 6 days that were 25 or more degrees above normal and 2 days that were 30 or more degrees above normal. It is not surpsing then that the statistics show that March 2012 was the warmest on record for Lincoln with 126 years of data (1887-2012)

Monday, April 9, 2012

Climate Highlights — From NOAA/NCDC. March Record and near-record breaking temperatures dominated the eastern two-thirds of the nation and contributed to the warmest March on record for the contiguous United States, a record that dates back to 1895. The average temperature of 51.1 degrees F was 8.6 degrees F above the 20th century average for March and 0.5 degrees F warmer than the previous warmest March in 1910. Of the more than 1,400 months that have passed since the U.S. record began, only one month, January 2006, has seen a larger departure from its average temperature than March 2012.

A persistent weather pattern during the month led to 25 states (dark red on the map) east of the Rockies having their warmest March on record. An additional 15 states had monthly temperatures ranking among their ten warmest. That same pattern brought cooler-than-average conditions to the West Coast states of Washington, Oregon, and California.Every state in the nation experienced a record warm daily temperature during March. According to preliminary data, there were 15,272 warm temperature records broken (7,755 daytime records, 7,517 nighttime records). Hundreds of locations across the country broke their all-time March records. There were 21 instances of the nighttime temperatures being as warm, or warmer, than the existing record daytime temperature for a given date.

Friday, April 6, 2012

The temperature anomaly map to the left shows that many of the lower 48 states are experiencing a very warm year to date (January 1 through April 5, 2012).

The greatest warmth is an anomaly exceeding 10 degrees above normal in parts of Missouri up through Iowa into Minnesota and the Dakotas. In Nebraska, the largest warm temperature anomaly is the Easternportion of the state.

Looking at the statistics, It is the warmest year to date for Lincoln, NE (with 126 years of data). Here is the ranking of the top ten warmest starts to the year (through April 5 every year, 1887-2012): (Note Omaha, NE, is also listed below and they,too, are having theirwarmest year on record.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The map to the left shows the temperature anomalies for the first 3 months of 2012. Much or the upper Midwest and Great Plains experienced a much warmer than normal January 1-March 31, 2012 time period.

Checking the data for Lincoln, NE, it was the warmest on record for the first 3 months of the year. Here is the ranking for the top ten warmest January 1-March 31 time periods.